Because Bolivia enjoys vast forested lands, it took a particular interest in ensuring it was prepared at the national level for the negotiation of the UNFCCC. The main objective of the Bolivian government’s strategy was to derive benefits from the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM). Accordingly, most of Bolivia’s negotiating machinery was geared to prepare for the CDM and to lobby the necessary parties and actors in this regard.
Raising Awareness of the Bolivian Delegation: The negotiation process started with a series of workshops in the State to raise awareness of the issues and the possible benefits of the CDM, amid the preparation of the inventories.
Formulation of a National Strategy and Team: Following these brainstorming events, the Bolivian national consultative group was formed, and consultants were hired to prepare proposals to develop the national strategy for implementing the CDM. The team of consultants was responsible for preparing the drafts and submitting them to an ad hoc inter-institutional committee made up of the Ministry of Sustainable Development, NGOs, and key donors. As the national position and the strategy were being clarified, the Inter-institutional Committee for Climate Change (CICC) began to play a larger role, providing comments to drafts and guidance on future actions. This committee gave the final approval on the position and the way to negotiate in the sixth Conference of the Parties (COP-6) to the Convention. A small team of four plus the Minister of Sustainable Development were nominated to attend the COP. The negotiating team was composed of:
- a principal negotiator (the advisor to the Minister),
- a representative of the Ministry of Foreign Relations,
- the head of the national climate change programme, and
- the head of the consultants’ team that prepared the strategy to implement the CDM in Bolivia.
Coordination with Coalitions of Like-Minded Groups: Bolivia sought to obtain greater support or a transfer of funds from developed countries to address the costs of adaptation and to include forest projects in the CDM. Therefore, it searched for States with the same interests, particularly in Latin America. Close contacts were established with other Latin American States holding similar positions (especially Colombia, Costa Rica, Uruguay, and Mexico), and a joint strategy was agreed upon to ensure that COP-6 could open a market for a Certified Emission Reduction under the CDM.